The Japanese Cancer Association and Debiopharm Group(TM) Present the JCA-Mauvernay Award to Dr Ogawa and Prof. Maeda for Their Outstanding Oncology Research

LAUSANNE, Switzerland, September 24, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Debiopharm
Group(TM) (Debiopharm), a Swiss-based global biopharmaceutical group of
companies with a focus on the development of innovative prescription drugs
that target unmet medical needs, today presented the ‘The JCA-Mauvernay
Award’ to Doctor Seishi Ogawa from the University of Tokyo, for his research
on cancer genome analysis and to Professor Shin Maeda from Yokohama City
University of Medicine, for his research on liver carcinogenesis. The
ceremony was held during the General Assembly of the 69th Annual Conference
of the Japan Cancer Association (JCA) in Japan. Professor Tetsuo Noda,
President of the JCA and Dr Rolland-Yves Mauvernay, Founder and President of
Debiopharm Group(TM) presented both scientists with the Award for their
outstanding and innovative research.

Seishi Ogawa is the Project Associate Professor of the Cancer Genomics
Project at the University of Tokyo. His research work focuses on the
“Identification of molecular targets in cancers through comprehensive cancer
genome analysis”. The aim of Dr Ogawa’s studies is to identify the genetic
changes that lead to malignant disorders. One way to achieve this is by the
complete dissection of cancer genomes using genome-wide analysis, with tools
such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) genotype microarrays. Dr Ogawa
and his colleagues developed a robust and efficient system to detect copy
number alterations as well as allelic imbalances in cancer genomes. This work
allowed the identification of a number of mutations associated with
particular forms of neoplasms and their relevance is currently being analysed
in a number of clinical studies.

Shin Maeda is Professor of the Department of Gastroenterology at the
Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine. His research focuses on
“Analysis of NF-kappaB/IKK signalling pathways in liver carcinogenesis”. More
specifically on the idea that the NF-kappaB/ IKK (inhibitor of nuclear factor
kappa-B kinase) signalling pathways play an important role in the regulation
of immune responses, inflammation and cancer, and are therefore attractive
targets for the development of anti-cancer drugs. His research in mice shows
that deletion of IKK-beta in hepatocytes enhances the formation of
chemically-induced hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC), whereas a full deletion
of IKK-beta in whole liver cells decreases HCC formation. These findings
allowed Prof. Maeda to propose a model whereby chemical carcinogenesis is
strongly dependent on inflammatory crosstalk.

“We congratulate Professor Maeda and Doctor Ogawa for excellent quality
of their research,” said Rolland-Yves Mauvernay, president and founder of
Debiopharm Group(TM). “Their work provides insights, through different angles
on the signalling pathways that are responsible for the oncogenic process in
different malignancies. This understanding will ultimately lead to the
development of new anti-cancer drugs.”

About Debiopharm Group(TM)

Debiopharm Group(TM) (Debiopharm) is a Swiss-based global
biopharmaceutical group of companies with a focus on the development of
prescription drugs that target unmet medical needs. The group in-licenses,
develops and/or co-develops promising biological and small molecule drug
candidates having reached clinical development phases I, II or III.
Debiopharm is also prepared to consider earlier stage candidates. It develops
its products for global registration and maximum commercial potential. The
products are out-licensed to pharmaceutical partners for sales and marketing.
Besides drug development, Debiopharm Group has recently embarked in the field
of companion diagnostics with a view to progressing in the area of
personalised medicine.

Debiopharm independently funds the worldwide development of all of its
products while providing expertise in pre-clinical and clinical trials,
manufacturing, drug delivery and formulation, and regulatory affairs.

For more information on Debiopharm Group(TM), please visit:
http://www.debiopharm.com.

    Debiopharm S.A. Contact
    Maurice Wagner
    Director Corporate Affairs &
    Communication
    Tel.: +41(0)21-321-01-11
    Fax: +41(0)21-321-01-69
    mwagner@debiopharm.com

    Additional Media Contacts

    In London
    Maitland
    Brian Hudspith
    Tel: +44(0)20-7379-5151
    bhudspith@maitland.co.uk

    In New York
    Russo Partners, LLC
    Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D.
    Account Executive
    Tel: +1-212-845-4292
    Fax: +1-212-845-4260
    martina.schwarzkopf@russopartnersllc.com

SOURCE Debiopharm Group